Saxophonist and composer Dan Blake has developed a wide-ranging
career as a contemporary composer, performer and educator who “regards
tradition as a welcoming playground best approached with a sense of
wonder and adventure” (The Boston Globe). Blake’s music has been called
“stunning” (All About Jazz), and he was dubbed a “virtuoso” (The New
York Times) for his work touring and recording both with his own
projects and with luminaries of jazz and popular music like three-time
Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding, NEA Jazz Master Anthony Braxton, and
Velvet Underground founding member John Cale.
His most recent recording "Da Fé" for Sunnyside Records was called “One
of the most relevant and musically rich albums of 2021 in any style of
music” (Alan Young). For this concert the trio will perform music from
“The Digging” (Sunnyside Records), which the Ottawa Citizen described
as “a creative essay on what can be done in the saxophone trio format”.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with Dan Blake.
Bassist Justin Purtill has performed, recorded, and toured with
Gary Burton, Jerry Bergonzi, Hal Crook, The Fringe, George Garzone, Leo
Genovese, Bill Goodwin, Joe Hunt, Eric Kloss, Rakalam Bob Moses, Tiger
Okoshi, Melvin Seals and the JGB, Esperanza Spalding, Kendrick Scott,
Paul Wertico, and Amy Winehouse.
He appeared previously at Chez Hanny with Dan Blake.
Drummer Jason Lewis has played with a variety of
talented musicians including: Joshua
Breakstone, John Stowell, Gary Burton, James Moody, Mark Murphy, Norma
Winstone, Larry Coryell, Darol Anger, Regina Carter, Johnny Frigo, Ann
Dyer, James Carter, Taylor Eigsti, John Handy, Anton Schwartz, Mark
Levine, Peter Apfelbaum, Cornelius Bumpus, Kurt Elling, and
Boz Scaggs.
Jason was heard here previously with Harvey Wainapel, Dave Mac Nab,
Dave Scott, Michael Zilber, John Stowell, Sheldon Brown, Jeff Chambers,
Kristen Strom, Brad Buethe, Mike Greensill, Shay Salhov, Shoebox
Orchestra, and Dahveed Behroozi.